THERE is no decision to hold the 16th General Election (GE16) ahead of schedule despite renewed calls for an early poll, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said today.
“There is no decision at all, actually. It is a proposal. The proposal to hold an early election is a proposal from the party,” he said when met at the Malaysia Parliament Open Day 2026 opening ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today.
Johari was responding to a renewed call yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for GE16 to be held before the current parliamentary term expires next year.
Zahid said the mandate should be returned to the people and that UMNO was ready to face its political opponents in GE16.
Johari said any party was free to propose a date or timing for the next general election, but stressed that such proposals did not amount to a decision.
“And I think there is no decision at all. So parties can make any proposal,” he said.
He said the Election Commission (EC) would make the final decision on the election date.
No official announcement has been made on when GE16 will be held. - September 12, 2026
